ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Early Indications of COVID 19 Pandemic Outbreak in the country
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare was following the evolving situation in China, when WHO India alerted our country on 6th January, 2020 about outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan city of China. The Joint Monitoring Group under Director General of Health Services to met on 8th January, 2020 to review the evolving situation in China and deliberated on public health preparedness and response strategies for the same.
Before the nationwide lockdown, a series of actions were undertaken in a pro-active, graded and pre-emptive manner based on the evolving scenario.
To prevent entry of disease, India started point of entry screening of passengers at ports, airports and land border crossings on 18th January, 2020 to identify symptomatic travellers from affected countries. Subsequently universal screening was done for all passengers. Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme followed up these international travellers in the community and contacts of suspects and confirmed cases. In all such States/Districts that reported cases, a containment strategy was followed to contain clusters and large outbreaks. Travel advisories and guidelines on surveillance, contact tracing, sample collection & transportation, clinical management, discharge policy, infection prevention & control and home quarantine were also issued.
India took adequate action for screening, surveillance, contact tracing of international travellers from 18th January, 2020. Travel advisories were issued restricting inflow of international travellers.
Points of entry screening was initiated for travellers coming from COVID affected countries and subsequently universal screening was done. Prior to the lockdown on 25th March, 2020, a total of 14,154 flights with 15,24,266 passengers have been screened at these airports. Screening was also done at 12 major and 65 minor ports and land border crossings. In addition to airports, about 16.31 lakh persons were screened at land border crossings and about 86,379 persons were screened at 12 major, 65 minor seaports. Multi-disciplinary Central teams were deployed for inspection of airports and hospitals attached to them to ensure proper screening and end to end management of suspect cases detected on screening.
The Minister of State , Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Ministry of YAS provided special assistance to Indian sportspersons for their preparations for the Tokyo Olympics: Union Sports Minister
Indian sportspersons and teams will be participating in the events of Tokyo Olympics 2020 across the 18 sports disciplines viz., Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Badminton, Equestrian, Fencing, Golf, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Shooting, Sailing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
The Government has continuously provided support to Indian athletes/ teams for their training, foreign exposures and competitions to enable them to obtain maximum quota for participation in Olympics and enhance their chances to win medals. The selected athletes have been supported for their customized training and competitive exposures with funding from the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations and National Sports Development Fund. Out of pocket allowance  has been given @ Rs.50,000/- per month to athletes included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme . During the pandemic period, athletes have also been supported by providing necessary sporting equipment such as , air pellets, target system with the help from Sports Authority of India  Regional Centers, State Governments and NGOs at their homes for sustaining their training and practice.
The Government is confident and hopeful that the Indian sportspersons will put their best performances and will make the country proud, as the Government of India, Indian Olympic Association and National Sports Federations have provided all possible support to the Athletes.
This information was given by Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Thakur in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Power
Vaccination Drive by POWERGRID
POWERGRID Corporation of India Ltd , a Maharatna PSU under Ministry of Power, has organised vaccination camps in many locations for its employees at its establishments across the country like Kota, Bhiwadi, Misa, Namsai, Rourkela, Ara, Biharsharif, Saharsa, and Muzaffarpur etc .For all the camps the cost on account of vaccination was borne by POWERGRID.
Among the camps organised at various locations, a vaccination camp was organised from 10th May to 17th May 2021 in Sector 43, Gurugram in its Multi- purpose hall  in association with Max Hospital more than 1600 individuals were vaccinated. These include employees, contractual employees and superannuated employees and their family members. Another vaccination camp was organised by POWERGRID at its MP Hall in Gurugram from 31st March to 6th May 2021 in association with Max Hospitals, Fortis and Artemis more than 700 individuals were vaccinated.
A vaccination camp was also organised by POWERGRID at Katwaria Sarai office Delhi in association with Apollo Hospitals where more than 290 people took the vaccine this number includes more than 80 employees and their families from Ministry of Power and other Power PSUs
A total of more than 2600 people have been vaccinated by POWERGRID in these three camps organised in NCR territory.
These camps were organised for the age groups of 18-44 years and also for those above 45 years of age.
POWERGRID stands united with the Government of India’s vision to complete the largest vaccination drive in the world.
Ministry of Education
Union Education Minister sets up a task force for preparing a roadmap on imparting technical education in Mother Tongue
Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has set up a task force for preparing a roadmap on imparting technical education in Mother Tongue, here today. The task force set up under the chairmanship of Secretary, Higher Education will take into consideration the suggestions made by various stakeholders and will submit a report in a month. The decision was taken by the Minister at a high level meeting on imparting technical education in Mother Tongue. Secretary Higher Education, Shri Amit Khare, IIT Directors, Academicians and senior officials of the Ministry were present on the occasion. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss and deliberate regarding the implementation of NEP- 2020.
Shri Pokhriyal said that the meeting today is a step in the direction towards achieving Prime Minister’s vision that student may pursue the professional courses such as medicine, engineering, law, etc in their mother tongue.
The Minister said that no language will be imposed on any student but enabling provisions should be made so that bright students are not deprived of Technical Education due to lack of knowledge of English language.
He further said that all the stakeholders are taking concerted efforts to ensure effective implementation of the New Education Policy- 2020.
Ministry of Communications
2nd edition of Internal Audit Manual for Telecom Department releases today by Secretary Shri K. Rajaraman
“Internal Audit is an independent function established within the organization that examines and evaluates its activities”, said, Shri K. Rajaraman, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, today, while releasing the Second Edition of the Internal Audit Manual for Department of Telecommunications , in the presence of the Members of the Digital Communications Commission. Shri Rajaraman, further added that Internal Audit not only checks the accuracy of accounting and financial records maintained by various executive offices of the Ministry but also focuses on rules and regulations to be followed, in order to ensure that the current business processes are in alignment with the objectives and goals. He appreciated the efforts of Office of Controller General of Communications Accounts  which has brought out the Manual.
The 2nd edition of the Internal Audit follows the first edition published in January, 2020 and contains specific chapters on Performance audit, Risk Based audit, Systems audit and Remote audit. Further, the questionnaires have been made more elaborate and detailed. This edition also makes an effort to ensure uniformity in the audit process inside the department and bring on board all stakeholders so as to fully digitize internal audit in the process.
With a vision to further improve the process of internal audit in DoT, its attached offices and more than hundred of its field units spread across the country, the second edition has been brought out by the Office of Controller General of Communications Accounts ,an attached office of DoT.
Internal audit has always been recognized as an important tool to fix fiscal leakages and profligacy. As a priory activity it identifies, assesses and flags risks. A well conducted internal audit performs these functions and functionaries can act timely to mitigate the risks.
Release of the Manual is part of similar reformative activitiesundertaken by DoT recently. When COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible to conduct a physical audit, O/o CGCA continued with its audit plans by devising the remote methodology of audit which used electronic means to conduct audit. In continuation of this initiative it has also launched its own audit software, Audit Reporting and Monitoring System, hosted on the website of CGCA. It aims to digitize the complete audit cycle and act as an audit knowledge repository for all DoT units.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Central Government takes several key decisions to curb rise in prices of Onions
The Central Government has taken several key decisions to curb rise in prices of Onions today.Concerned over rise in prices of Onions, the central Governmentannounced the following key decisions:
- States have been requested to utilize a stockof 35,000 ton available with the Central Government for direct retailing to ease the pressure on prices. Communication in this regard was sentto the State Governments asking them to indicate their requirement from the Central Buffer. Till date, 5 States namely, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Tripura and Odisha have demanded Onions from this stock.
- NAFED which holds the Central Buffer on behalf of Union Government has been directed to distribute Onions in Delhi through stores of Safal, Mother dairy, NCCF and its own outletsat a fixed rate of not more than Rs. 24 per kilo.The Central Government also offered the Delhi Government, Onions from its Buffer stocks for direct retailing through its channels at similar rates. This would improve the total number of distribution centres across Delhi to about 700 outlets.
- The Kharif crop of Onion from Karnataka has already started arriving in the market and this will ease the pressure on supply from Maharashtra as well as prices in adjoining regions.
- There is sufficient stock of Onions in Maharashtra to meet the current demand. However, Supplies are seemingly being restrained to increase prices. Government is taking all measures to improve these supplies and from Central buffer to mitigate any such shortfall in availability and will also consider imposing stock limit if prices do not moderate on account of speculative behaviour of traders.
- MMTC has also been directed to float a tender for import of Onions to meet any short fall in availability.
- NAFED has also been directed to be in preparedness for meeting any contingencies during the ensuing festive season and move sufficient stock in advance to places of consumption and distribution to ensure that supply remains unhindered.
- The reported export below Minimum Export Price to Bangladesh& Sri Lanka will be immediately stopped and strict action will be initiated against those who are found to be violating this decision of the government.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT SCHEME
Government of India launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission  including sub-component namely Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns  and Urban Infrastructure and Governance  in December, 2005 for a period of 7 years i.e., upto 31stMarch, 2012. The UIDSSMT and UIG component was for infrastructure development with Central Assistance  in small and medium towns of the States/Union Territories , whereas UIG component was for infrastructure development with central assistance in large Cities. The JNNURM was extended for a period of two years i.e., upto 31st March, 2014. All the projects of UIDSSMT and UIG components of JNNURM in which 50% or more of the CA had been released and physical progress was 50% or more as on 31stMarch, 2014 or were sanctioned during the Transition Phase  of the Mission, were approved for funding under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation  upto 31stMarch, 2017. After closure of the Mission, all the projects were handed over to the States/UTs.
AMRUT was launched on 25thJune 2015 with focus on the development of basic urban infrastructure in the sectors of water supply, sewerage and septage management, storm water drainage, non-motorised urban transport and development of green spaces and parks in 500 selected cities across the country. Further, AMRUT Mission as such is not mandated to eradicate slums in the country. However, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban has In-Situ Slum Redevelopment  as one of its four components under which slum rehabilitation can be taken up using land as a resource.
Development of urban infrastructure is a State subject. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the States / Union Territories  to frame policies and implement scheme for improving the quality of life for all including the poor and the disadvantaged people residing in its cities. However, Government of India, through various programmatic interventions, assists the States/UTs in their effort to provide basic amenities required to improve quality of life, such as shelter, water supply, sewage and toilets facilities to urban population. Such programmes, which are under implementation at present, are - Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban , Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation  and Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban .
This information was given by the Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Kaushal Kishore, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan felicitates Shri Surendra Kumar, a member of the Indian Hockey team for winning Bronze in Asian Games 2018
The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan today felicitated Shri Surendra Kumar, a member of the Indian Hockey team in Asian Games 2018 in which the team won a bronze medal. He is a hockey player who is also working in FCI. Shri Paswan gave his best wishes to Shri Surendra Kumar for a bright future and also gave him a check of Rs five lakh as promotional amount and two post promotions.
On this occasion, Union Minister Shri Ram Vilas Paswan asked the officials of the department to encourage the players so that the players could perform better. Upon being felicitated by the Union Minister, Shri Surendra Kumar expressed his happiness and said that today I am feeling very proud of myself.
Ministry of Railways
Ministry of Railways decides disbandment of five Railway Engineers Territorial Army Regiments located at Jhansi, Kota, Adra, Chandigarh and Secunderabad
Railway Engineer Regiment  located at Jamalpur to be retained for operational role along route New Jalpaiguri-Siliguri-Newmal-Alipurduar-Rangiya
A Committee of three Executive Directors/Principal Executive Director was constituted in the Ministry of Railways to review the existing Functional Establishment of six Railway Engineers Territorial Army Regiments located at Jamalpur, Jhansi, Kota, Adra, Chandigarh and Secunderabad. The Committee re-assessed the operational requirements of Railway TA Regiments.
On the basis of the recommendations of the above Committee and with the concurrence of the Ministry of Defence and Directorate General of Territorial Army, Ministry of
Railways have decided as under:-
- Disbandment of five Railway Engineers Territorial Army Regiments located at Jhansi, Kota, Adra, Chandigarh and Secunderabad.
- Retention of one Railway Engineer Regiment  located at Jamalpur for the operational role along the route New Jalpaiguri-Siliguri-Newmal-Alipurduar-Rangiya  to cover the critical rail link through Siliguri corridor and further upto Rangiya as proposed by Ministry of Defence.
The disbandment process is to be completed by Directorate General Territorial Army within a duration of nine months from the date of issue of Ministry of Railways letter dated 03.06.2022 and the modalities for the same are to be worked out by DGTA in consultation with Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Defence.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs 
Boost to educational infrastructure in tribal areas
Each block with over 50% tribal population and over 20,000 tribals to have EMRSs
462 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools to set up
Autonomous Society under M/o Tribal Affairs to run the EMRSs
Cabinet approves revamping of ‘Eklavya Model Residential Schools’
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its in-principle approval for setting up of Eklavya Model Residential Schools  in every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons.To begin with, the CCEA has approved a financial cost of Rs. 2242.03 crore during 2018-19 and 2019-20 for rolling out the revamped scheme.
The CCEA has further approved the following:
- There will be an Autonomous Society under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs similar to NavodayaVidyalayaSamiti to run the EMRSs.
- Upgradation of already sanctioned EMRSs on need basis with unit cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 5 crore per school.
- Setting up sports facilities in 163 tribal dominated districts at a unit cost of Rs. 5 crore each to be constructed by the year 2022. Financial provisions for 15 sports facilities during 2018-19 and 2019-20 has been agreed to.
- Enhancing the grants for maintenance which are admissible every five years from Rs 10 lakh to Rs.20 Lakh.
Details:
- 102 of such blocks are already having EMRSs. Thus, 462 new EMRSs will be established in these blocks across the country.
- The new scheme envisages increase in construction cost of EMRS from current Rs.12 crore to Rs. 20 crore to improve the construction quality and ensure better facilities for the students.
- Recurring cost to be enhanced to Rs. 1,09,000/- per student per year from the existing Rs. 61500/- per student per year from 2019-20 onwards.
- Additional 20% would be provided towards construction cost in North East, hilly areas, difficult areas and areas affected by Left Wing Extremism.
Background:
EMRS is an excellent approach for imparting quality education to ST children. Apart from school building including hostels and staff quarters, provision fora playground, students' computer lab, teacher resource room etc. are also included in the EMRSs. This initiative will benefit ST students immensely.
By focusing on specific intervention to cater to the educational needs of STs, the quality of the life of STs is expected to improve to the level of rest of the social groups and a visible impact by 2021 Census.
Ministry of Defence
IAF PARTICIPATION IN EXERCISE PITCH BLACK 2022 AT DARWIN, AUSTRALIA
An Indian Air Force contingent has reached Australia for participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2022 scheduled to be held from 19 Aug 22 to 08 Sep 22 in Darwin. This is a biennial, multi-national exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force . It will focus on Large Force Employment warfare. The last edition was conducted in 2018. The 2020 edition of the exercise was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's exercise will see the participation of over 100 aircraft and 2500 military personnel from various air forces.
The IAF contingent, led by Group Captain YPS Negi, comprises over 100 air warriors, deployed with four Su-30 MKI fighter and two C-17 aircraft. They will undertake multi-domain air combat missions in a complex environment and will exchange best practices with the participating air forces.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Petrol Pumps Selling Biofuel
As on date, the number of Retail Outlets  selling biofuels in the country are as under:
No. of ROs selling Compressed Bio Gas  – 90
No. of ROs selling E100 – 3
In addition, Ethanol Blended Petrol is sold across the country.
Government vide Resolution dated 8th November, 2019, has revised the guidelines for authorization to market transportation fuels. The authorized entities are required to install facilities for marketing at least one new generation alternate fuel including biofuel at their proposed retail outlets within three years of operation of the said outlet subject to the entity complying with various other statutory guidelines.
Study undertaken by Automotive Research Association of India , Indian Institute of Petroleum , Indian Oil Corporation  and Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers  has indicated that E-20 blending resulted in higher reduction in Carbon Monoxide emission by 50% in two wheelers and 30% in four wheelers as compared to normal petrol. Further, Hydrocarbon emission reduced by 20% in both two wheelers and four wheelers as compared to normal petrol.
There are no definitive estimates on actual savings of foreign currency as it depends on various factors like crude prices and prevailing foreign exchange  rates etc., However, Ethanol blending in Petrol upto 15th November, 2022 during the Ethanol Supply Year  2021-22  is estimated to have had an impact of over Rs. 20,000 crore on the import bill of crude oil and petroleum products.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Rameswar Teli in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Education
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan holds meeting with Ms. Gina Raimondo, US Secretary of Commerce for forging stronger linkages between India and the U.S. in skilling sector
Discussions held on creating lifelong learning opportunities of a large scale and deepen collaborations in 3S—Skilling, Start-ups and SMEs
Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan held a meeting with United States Secretary of Commerce, Ms. Gina Raimondo with focus on forging stronger linkages between India and the U.S in skilling sector.
Shri Pradhan informed that both the leaders agreed to strengthen institutional mechanisms for making the Indian skill ecosystem more vibrant as well as for building workforce of the future. He said that skills and competencies have become more important than degrees in today’s times.
The Minister informed that both discussed ways to create lifelong learning opportunities of a large scale and deepen our collaborations in 3S—Skilling, Start-ups and SMEs.
Both agreed that the size of India’s workforce on one hand, and size of opportunities in critical and emerging technologies in U.S. on the other, can be aligned for mutual benefit to both our countries.
Shri Pradhan appreciated Ms. Gina Raimondo’s high regard for Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership and vision for India’s fast-paced growth.